Automatic car-cager.



J. A. NOLAN.

AUTOMATIC. CAR CAGER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26, 191'4.

1,170,316. Patented Feb. 1, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- THE COLUMBIA PLAQIOGRAPH cbe, WASHINGTON, n. L

J. A. NOLAN.

AUTOMATIG CAR CAGER.

APPLICATION FILED IuIIIE 26, I914.

Patented Feb. 1, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

,lOi i2 THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 601, WASHINGTON, n. c.

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JAMES A. NOLAN, onBownRsToN, 01-110.

AUTOMATIC CA-R-CAGER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatenteclFeb. 1, 1916.

Application filed June 26, 1914. Serial No 847,502. I

'in automatic car cagers primarily adapted for use in mines and designed to automatically stop a loaded car in proper position on the cage.

The main object of the present invention is the provision of a car cager wherein means are provided for securing the loaded 7 car on the cage in a manner, toprevent accidental displacement thereof, the empty car in the return of the cage to the bottom of the mine being automatically released for delivery from the cage.

The invention in the preferred form of details will be described in the following specification, reference being had particularly to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan of the improved cage bottom viewed from the upper side and showing the improved car stops. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan of same, showing operating members. Fig. 3 is a section on line 8-3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a plan showing the preferred form of automatic release for the stops to permit empty car to ride off the platform when the cage is at proper delivery position. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the modified form of release. Fig. 6 is a detail view illustrating the tripping cooperation of the parts.

Referring particularly to the drawings, the improved stop includes stop blocks 1 having terminal abutments 2 designed when in operative position to overlie the rails 3 of the cage platform 4:. The blocks are respectively mounted upon pivot rods 5 which extend through the platform and have crank ends 6, which latter are connected through the medium of levers 7 with the operating crank 8. The latter comprises a section '9 pivotally connected to the platform and having an intermediate depending portion 10 which projects through an opening 11 in the platform to receive the levers. The forward terminal of the crank has a lateral arm 12 overlying the edge of the platform, said arm being in the plane of the platform when the parts are in operative or set positions. A

spring 13 is connected to the levers and to i ii the platform through the medium of which spring the parts are normally held in operative positions.

I The platform is also provided with a back stop 14 comprising a block designed to over- 7 lie one of the rails having a terminal abutment 15 and normally held in operative position by a spring 16, the block pointing toward the stop blocks so that the car riding on the rails will displace the back block and 'i the latter will automatically spring to lock the same in position in rear of the rear wheels when the car is in place. The abutments of both the stop blocks and back block are undercut so as to provide shoulders 17 designed to, engage the outer side of the respective rails and limit the operative position of the respective blocks.

In Fig. 4 I have shown the preferred form of automatic release, in the use of which the stop blocks may be automatically turned from car holding position to permit delivery of the empty car from the cage. In this type of release, I mount a lever 18 on the support 19 arranged intermediate tracks 20 beyond the cage. The forward end of the lever, or that end next the cage is provided with an angle trip plate 20, having depending portions 21 inclined outwardly from the vertical as illustrated, the portion 21 being on the relatively inner edge of the lever. The opposing or remote end of the lever is curved and slightly offset providing an operating section 22. A spring 23 is connected to the lever so as to normally hold the lever in set or operative position against the stop 24, with the angle trip plate in the path of the lateral arm 12 of the operating plate. As the cage descends the arm 12 engages the trip plate and is turned with the effect to withdraw the stop blocks from their operative relation to the rails. In such operative position, the operating section of the lever overlies the rail, so that as the empty carrides on to the rail, it will force the leverlaterally. By reason of the inclination of the portion 21 of the trip plate the upward movement in the cage permits the rising arm 12, which of course cannot be moved farther in the downward direction to engage said portion 21 and deflect the le ver so as to permit the arm to ride by and above the same.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a slightly modified form of release, wherein a trip arm 25 is mounted for reciprocation in guide bearings 26 arranged between the tracks, the arm having a terminal head 27 to be engaged by the arm 12 in the descent of the cage. The trip arm is held in operative position by a spring 28 and connected through the medium of the link 29 with the trip point 30 in the form of a Ushaped pivotally supported member having one arm in position to be engaged by the wheels of the oncoming car, so that as the empty car released from the cage by the automatic release, rides on to the tracks, it will depress the trip point and withdraw the trip arm to permit the stop blocks returning to normal or operative position.

From the above construction it will be obvious that I have provided a means whereby a loaded car will be automatically secured in proper position upon the cage, and the empty car automatically delivered therefrom in the return of the cage to lowered position. A keeper 81 is secured upon the platform having an angle portion-to overlie a wheel, which prevents the car from leaving the rails While the cage is dumping. The stop block may be located on the inside or outside of the rails as conditions warrant, it being understood that as will be apparent, they are equally effective in either position.

lVhat is claimed is A car cage having track rails thereon, stop blocks pivotally mounted on the cage and swinging in a horizontal plane, each stop block having a terminal abutment to overlie the rails when the stop blocks are in operative positions, pivot rods on which the stop blocks are secured and having crank ends, a main operating crank pivotally mounted in the cage, one terminal of said latter crank extending in advance of one end of the cage, and levers connecting the stop block pivot rod cranks with the main crank-to simultaneously and oppositely actuate the stop blocks in a single movement of the main crank.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' JAMES A. NOLAN. l/Vitnesses:

W. B. LAW, MAUD LAW.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

